Répliques

は～、懐かしいですねぇ。

Ahhh... It's so lovely to be back here again.

共和国も素敵でしたけど やっぱりリベールの空気は 格別です～。

The Republic was a wonderful place, too, but you can't beat the air here in Liberl.

半年前、あれだけ 大変なことがあったのに 街並みもすっかり元通りやね。

You wouldn't believe all that stuff happened half a year ago looking at Grancel now, either. It's all completely back to normal.

平和で穏やかな国やのに そこらへんは根性あるよなぁ。

The people here sure are strong for what's usually such a peaceful country.

えっへん、何と言っても 女王様の治める国ですから～。

Well, it's a country ruled by a queen!

女は逆境に強いんですよ～。

Everyone knows women are tough in the face of adversity.

な、なんかドロシーちゃんが言うと 説得力があるような無いような……

I'm not sure whether you're a perfect example of that or the opposite...

しかし半年ぶりやけど 確かにええね、この国の空気は。

You're right about the air here, though. It IS nice.

……どこか懐かしいっていうか 里心が付くってゆーか。

Nostalgic, almost. Makes me feel a little homesick.

たしかケビンさんの故郷って アルテリアって所でしたっけ～？

Your home's in Arteria, right?

でっかい教会が たくさんあるっていう～。

The place with all the reeeally big churches and stuff?

あー……別にオレは アルテリアの出身やないで。

Nah. I'm not actually from Arteria.

アルテリア法国っちゅうんは 七耀教会の総本山がある場所でな。

Not many people are.

大陸全土から、信徒とか 教会関係者が集まってくるけど 元々の出身者ってのは少ないんや。

It's actually pretty darn small--like, smaller than most states around the continent.

国言うても、そこらの自治州より はるかに面積小さいし。

It's where the High Seat of the Septian Church is, so lots of pilgrims and clergymen gather there, but few are actually born there.

は～、そうなんですかぁ。

Oh, really? Huh...

あれ、それじゃあ ケビンさんの故郷って……

So where are you from, then?

ド～ロ～シ～……

Doooroooooothyyyyyyyyy...

あ～、ナイアル先輩！

Oh, Nial!

ドロシー・ハイアット！ ただいま戻りました～。

I'm home! Did you miss me?

ただいま戻りました～、{wait} #144Fじゃねえっての！！

Did I miss you?{wait} #144FOf course I MISSED you! What in Aidios' name have you been DOING?!

お前ってヤツは…… なんでボース市の取材が 共和国の取材に変わるんだよ！？

I sent you to Bose! How did you end up in Calvard?!

あの時、西回りの定期船に ちゃんと乗ってただろうが！？

You were definitely on the west-bound liner! I'm sure of it!

うーん。 どうしてなんでしょうね～？

I really don't know...

はっ、もしかして……

Oh, wait! I might actually know!

もしかして……なんだ？

Go on, then. Spit it out.

もしかしてわたし、 夢遊病だったりするのかなぁ。

I bet I'm a sleepwalker.

寝てる時、自分でも気付かぬうちに 飛行船を乗り換えちゃってて……

After I got on the right airship, I fell asleep and then sleepwalked onto the wrong one!

それを何かの殺人事件の トリックに利用されたりして……

To think that all of this could turn out to be part of some elaborate murder plot.

ドキドキ…… ミステリーな匂いがしますね～。

Wowie! All of a sudden, I feel like I've walked right into a mystery novel!

夢遊病で乗った飛行船が 変わるわけねーだろッ！！

Sleepwalkers don't change airships, you idiot!

はあはあはあ…… #40Wくっ、息切れしてきた……

*pant* *pant* #40WUgh... I'm all out of breath now...

だ、大丈夫ですか～？

A-Are you all right?

先輩もいいトシなんですから タバコは控えておかないと～。

I really do think you should cut down on your smoking... You're not as young as you used to be, you know.

そうだ、３０歳のお誕生日、 先週の金曜日でしたよね～。

Oh, right... Your 30th birthday was last Friday, too, wasn't it?

おめでとうございます～。 わたし、旅先でケーキを買って 盛大にお祝いしたんですよ～。

Happy birthday! I bought a cake over in Calvard and had a big celebration for it, too!

んなどうでもいいこと 覚えてなくていーんだよ！

How is it that you can remember useless crap like that and not the things that actually matter?

ていうかそれ、ただ単に お前がケーキ喰いたかった だけだろうが！？

I bet you were just looking for an excuse to eat cake all by yourself, weren't you?

うふふ、それが東方の お抹茶を使ったケーキで～。

You should've seen it, Nial! It was made with Eastern matcha, so it was unlike any cake I'd ever seen!

甘さとほろ苦さのハーモニーが もう絶妙って感じなんです～。

That perfect blend of sweetness and bitterness was just SUBLIME.

可愛い姿を一杯撮って来ましたから あとで現像してお見せしますね～。

I took looots and loooooots of cute pictures of it, so I'll show you them all later.

写真かよ！？ せめて土産で買ってこいよ！？

You brought me PICTURES OF A CAKE?! At least bring back a souvenir!

（な、なんちゅうか……）

(M-Man...)

（前にも増して、芸としての {} 完成度が上がっとる気が……）

(They always FELT like they could go into business as a comedy duo and actually make money off it, but they're even more of a crackup now.)

って……あれ？

Wait a second...

はは…… ナイアルさん、お久しぶりです。

Haha... Nice to see you again, Nial.

相変わらずみたいで何よりですわ。

You're lookin' same old, same old...though maybe you're not so happy about that.

ケビン・グラハム！？ どうしてお前さんがここに……

Wh-What are you doing here?!

も、もしかしてコイツ、 アルテリアくんだりまで行って 何かしでかしたんじゃ……

Please, PLEASE tell me she didn't end up going to Arteria and causing trouble there, too...

はは、ちゃいますって。

Haha. Your wish is my command.

ちょうど偶然、国際定期船に 乗り合わせただけですわ。

We just ran into one another on that airship by total coincidence, that's all.

そ、そうか、安心したぜ。

O-Oh, good... You had me worried for a minute.

……思わずコイツがドジって 大聖堂のステンドグラスかなんかを 木っ端微塵にしたかと思ったぞ……

I was scared stiff she'd gone and smashed some super expensive stained glass windows in the cathedral there or who knows what...

ナイアルさん……　 ……苦労してますなぁ。

I'm so sorry for what you have to put up with...

うふふ、先輩ったら。 相変わらず心配性なんですから～。

Pshaw! You're too much of a worrywart.

誰のせいだ、誰の……

Whose fault do you think that is...?

しかし…… 半年ぶりくらいになるか。

Still, it's good to see you again, Father.

どうしてリベールへ？ また何かあったのかよ？

What brings you to Liberl? Somethin' else happen here?

あー、ちょいと野暮用ですわ。

Oh, just a bit of work-related business I've gotta take care of.

別に事件とかやないですから 期待しても何もあらへんですよ？

It's not part of a major investigation, so don't go getting your hopes up. Nothing of interest's gonna happen.

ヘヘ…… そいつはどうかな。

Haha... I'll be the judge of that.

まあいいや、どうせしばらくは グランセル大聖堂にいるんだろ？

Anyway, so where're you staying for the time being? Grancel Cathedral?

そのうち挨拶に伺わせてもらうぜ。

I'll have to drop by and say hi some time when I get the chance.

ハハ……お手柔らかに。

Haha... Go for it.

そんじゃドロシー！ とっとと編集部に戻るぞ！

In the meantime, I'm dragging your butt right back to the office, Dorothy!

この２週間、何をしてたのか 洗いざらい話してもらうからな！

You're going to tell us aaaaaall about what the hell you've been doing these past two weeks!

えっへん、 任せてくださいよ～。

Heehee. You bet'cha!

毎食毎食、写真を撮ったから 現像すれば全部思い出せます～。

I snapped photos of every meal I had while I was over in Calvard, so I'm sure if we develop them, I'll be able to remember everything!

グルメレポートの 話をしてんじゃねえ！

I'm not talking about your gourmet report!

は～、あの２人を見てると またリベールに 来たって感じがするなぁ。

Whew... Seeing those two together really makes it sink in that I'm back here.

しかし、それ以外の人は 何してるんやろな……

Thinking about it, I wonder how all the others here are doing?

エステルちゃんとヨシュア君は 外国に行ったそうやけど……

I know Estelle and Joshua are abroad at the moment, but I've got no idea what the others are up to.

グラハム神父……

Is that you, Father Graham?

シード中佐……！？

Lieutenant Colonel Cid!

はは、久しぶりだね。

It's good to see you again.

事件後の祝賀会以来かな…… 元気そうで何よりだよ。

I'm pleased to see you've been keeping well since we last met at that banquet.

中佐こそお変わりないようで 安心しましたわ。

The same to you, sir.

しかし、王国軍が 絡んでるとは聞いてましたけど……

I gotta say, I wasn't expecting you to be the army representative who came to meet me, though.

てっきりユリアさんあたりが 来はるかと思ってましたわ。

I figured it'd be Julia.

シュバルツ大尉は 今、別の任務に就いててね。

It may have been, but she's currently out on another mission, so unfortunately you'll have to make do with me.

こうして暇な私が 出張らせてもらったわけさ。

I didn't have anything better to do, so I came in her place.

またまた～、ご謙遜を。

There's no need to be so modest!

風の噂で、大佐への 昇進も間近と聞いてますで～？

A little bird told me that you're going to be promoted to full-on colonel soon, aren't you?

はは、今更ながら君たちの 情報網には驚かされるが……

I shouldn't be surprised that your people have such a good information network, but I still am.

生憎、今の私には いささか荷が重い地位かな。

Heh. Still, I'm afraid I still feel the position is too much responsibility for me as I am.

それに、カシウス准将にも まだまだ頑張ってもらいたいしね。

Brigadier General Bright still has plenty of work left in him, too. I wouldn't want to take any of it from him.

はは、カシウスさんも大変や。

Poor Cassius is still getting worked to the bone, huh?

それで…… 例のブツは大聖堂に？

Anyway, getting down to business... It's in Grancel Cathedral, right?

ああ…… 地下に保管されているらしい。

That's correct. It's being kept underneath it to be more specific, although I imagine you're already aware of that much.

何でも、部外者の立入には 騎士団の許可が必要らしいな？

I hear laymen like myself can't even enter it without the knights' permission.

ええ、まあ。 ちょいと特殊な場所ですから。

Pretty much. It's a...special place, you see.

詳しい話は そこでさせてもらいますわ。

I'll fill you in on the details when we get there.

……分かった。

All right, then.

紹介したい人もいるから さっそく大聖堂に向かおうか。

Well, we may as well head there right away. There's someone I want you to meet in the cathedral.

へ……紹介したい人？

Huh? Who?

フフ…… 今回の件における協力者でね。

Let's just say...someone who's been assisting with this case.

詳しい事情は その人から聞くといいだろう。

They'll be apprising you of the details on what you're dealing with here.

{color 5}……皆様、お待たせしました。

{color 5}Thank you all for waiting.

{color 5}レミフェリア公国方面、 国際定期船《カラブリア号》、 出航準備が整いました。

{color 5}The Calabria international airliner, bound for the Principality of Remiferia, will be departing momentarily.

{color 5}どうか足元にお気を付けて お乗りください。

{color 5}Please mind your footing when boarding.

あ、あれが《鉄血宰相》、 ギリアス・オズボーン殿ですか……

S-So that was the Blood and Iron Chancellor...

専用艇くらい持ってるでしょうに わざわざ民間の船を使うなんて……

I can't believe he actually went out of his way to use a civilian airship when he probably has a private one of his own.

……噂には聞いてたけど 相当、とんでもない相手みたいね。

I'd heard rumors about how out of the ordinary he is, but he lives up to all of them.

フフ…… なかなかスリルがある相手だよ。

Haha... He keeps me on my toes, to put it playfully enough.

それよりもシェラ君。 わざわざ見送り、済まなかったね。

Him aside, thanks for coming all this way to see me off, Schera.

ふふ、ちょうど仕事で 王都に用事があったついでよ。

I was lucky I just happened to have business here at the right time.

……その様子じゃ当分、 会えなくなりそうな雰囲気だしね。

It feels like this is going to be the last chance we get to see one another for a while, after all.

フッ、ボクの夢はあくまで シェラ君みたいな美女と一緒に 気ままな日々を送る事なんだがねぇ。

Rather unfortunate, as my dream is and always was to live away my days in the lap of luxury surrounded by women as beautiful as you.

はいはい。 ま、早くそんな身分になれるよう せいぜい頑張りなさいな。

*sigh* Well, good luck with that.

そういえば、あの宰相の側にいた 若いのは何者なの？

Changing the subject, though...who was the young man at the chancellor's side?

妙に隙のない足運びだったけど……

He didn't strike me as your ordinary guy...

ほう…… 判るか、シェラザード。

Oh? You could tell?

ええ、それはもう。

But of course.

ここしばらく格上の相手ばかりと やり合っていましたから。

I'd say I'm used to running into people who are out of the ordinary at this point. We've sure fought enough of them.

……レクター・アランドール。 帝国政府から出向していた書記官さ。

His name's Lechter Arundel. He's a secretary who was sent here by the Imperial government.

どうやら今回の宰相の訪問は 全て彼が段取りを行ったようだね。

Apparently, he was the one who planned out all the details of the chancellor's visit to Liberl.

何者かは知らないが…… 相当、優秀な参謀役なのだろう。

I can't pretend to know much regarding his background, but he's exceptionally skilled at what he does.

……オリヴァルト殿下。

Actually...

実はわたくし…… あの方のことを知っているのです。

...I know a little.

え……！？

What?!

Quoi ?!

あら……

Oh?

それは……本当かい？

Is that true?

はい……

Yes...

{color 5}クローディアは、レクターが 王立学園の前生徒会長を務めていた 彼女の先輩であったこと……

{color 5}Klaudia explained that Lechter once attended the same academy as her and had served as its Student Council president.

{color 5}そして一昨年の学園祭の後、 退学届けを出して学園を去ったことを説明した。

{color 5}She also mentioned about his sudden disappearance after the academy festival two years ago.

……なんと………

Unbelievable...

も、もしやそれは……

Th-Then...

……《鉄血宰相》に連なる者が ボクよりも前にリベールを訪れていた。

Someone connected to the chancellor had visited Liberl first?

つまりそれは、宰相独自の情報網が 既にリベールに構築されていた可能性を 示唆している……

Then he's very likely to have had his own veritable information network established here long before I even came up with the idea.

ふむ…… その可能性は高そうですな。

I think it's safe for us to assume that's the case.

情報部のクーデターから 今回の《輝く環》の異変まで……

Which also means that it's safe to assume he knows every detail about all that's happened here since.

その一部始終を把握されていても おかしくはないでしょう。

From the coup d'etat to the crisis regarding the Aureole... All of it.

…………………………………

...

......

本当、とんでもないわね……

This man gets more unbelievable by the minute...

……先ほど、先輩から 殿下への伝言を承りました。

He actually gave me a message to pass on to you earlier, too.

『踊り疲れたところを {} 怪物に呑み込まれないよう {} 気を付けろ』──だそうです。

'Watch your back, so you don't get swallowed up by that monster when you get tired of dancing.'

…………っ…………………

...

......

やれやれ…… 痛いところを突いてくるね。

He sure knows how to sting where it hurts, doesn't he?

フフ、何だか別の快感に 目覚めてしまいそうだよ。

Haha. I feel like I can see a whole new world of pleasure opening up before my eyes.

だが……やられっぱなしは 正直、あまり趣味じゃないかな。

He should know better. Getting outdone at every turn like this is really not my style.

え……

What do you mean?

──ユリア大尉。

Captain Schwarz?

出航したら一つ、 お願いがあるんだが……

I have a little favor I'd like to ask for when we're in the air...